Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
The design, synthesis and stimuli-responsive behavior of organically-modified silicates (ORMOSILS) is reported. The ORMOSILS behave as ‘smart’ materials by undergoing structural changes at the molecular level to respond to changes in environmental variables. Typical responses in the form of swelling/shrinkage with respect to changes in temperature, pH, and salt concentrations are presented. Finally, the nature of predominant mechanism responsible for the sol-gel's behavior towards combined stimuli of high temperature and low pH is discussed.